Portable sawmill



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PORTABLE SAWMILL Filed May 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E (2423 2a SWW 54 n. mi

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Q INVENTOR. m GLEN A. JOHNSON Nov.v 13, 1951 G, A, JOHNSON 2,574,974

PORTABLE SAWMILL Filed May 16, 1946 5 Sheel'S-Sheeil 3 INVENTOR. GLEN A. JOHNSON E? l Z ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1951 G. A. JOHNSON PORTABLE SAWMILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 16, 1946 INVENTOR.

B GLN A JOHNSON ATTONEY Nov. 13, 1951 Filed May 16,` 1946 G. A. JOHNSON PORTABLE SAWMILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY power plant and supporting wheels. Vranged the assembly of the diierent machines portable sawmill.

roof -to better illustrate the various units making f up the mill.

Patented Nov. 13,V 1951 UNITED STATESY PATENT GFFICE PORTABLE sAWMILL Glen A. Johnson, Tenino, Wash. Y Application May 16, 1946, serial No. 676,146

1 Claim. l This invention relates to sawmills and is particularly adapted to portable mills.

The primary object of the invention is to mount a complete mill, including a head rig, carriage, deck chains, sawdust elevator and the complete 'power plant upon a single framework which is mounted upon wheels or skid supports, preferably a three wheeled type of truck.

In the moving of my new and improved sawmill the deck chains fold up on the truck frame, also the sawdust conveyor, together with extension conveyors associated with the mill.

My new and improved sawmill is mounted upon rubber tired wheels permitting the moving of the mill over highways and the like to other points.

The mill on moving need not be dismantled or torn down, which is a costly operation in most forms of portable sawmills.

In the construction of my new and portable sawmill I have used standard sawmill equipment,

I have arso that one man can operate the sawmill.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specifications and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of my new and improved In this view I remove the Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is -a fragmentary detail illustrating the method of folding the lumber conveyor.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated, and illustrating the method of mounting the front supporting wheels.

Figure 5 is an end view of the mill, taken on line 5--5 of Figure 2 illustrating the log deck conveyors, the chain arrangement and especially the sawdust conveyor, the dotted lines indicating how these conveyors are folded while the mill is being moved.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1, illustrating the friction drive for moving the carriage, and

the mechanism for operating the log turner.

Figure 7 is an enlarged end sectional view, taken on line 'I-I of Figure 1, especially illustrating the operation of the log turner and the deck conveyors.

Figure 8 isan enlarged end sectional view, taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1.

In the drawings:

My new and improved 'portable sawmill consists of a main frame I, having one of its ends mounted upon wheels 2 by the mounting blocks 3 (Fig. '7) cooperating with the cross axle 4. The mounting blocks 3 may have a resilient member, such as a rubber block `5 (Fig. 6) for absorbing road shocks and the like. The opposite end of the frame I is mounted upon the wheels 6.

The wheels 6 are located centrally of th-e frame of the mill and are journalled to the. pedestal 'I, which is journalled within the cross frames 8 and supporting bearing 9, as shown in Fig. 4. A tongue Ill'is pivotally mounted to the pedestals 'I at I I and can be hooked to a tractor for moving the mill. I have found that a three wheeled supporting main frame I provides greater maneuverability in close places than a four wheeled supporting gear, although I do not wish to be limited to a three wheeled arrangement.

Mounted upon the main frame I is a supporting frame I2,`which overhangs the frame I providing a base for the various units of sawmill equipment. The frame I2 consists of the main border channels I3 and intermediate cross beams I 4. Mounted upon the cross beams I 4 forward and centrally of the frame I3 are longitudinally mounted 'supporting channels I5. These channels are especiallyprovided for supporting the head rig assembly consisting of a circular saw IB mounted to the arbor II in the usual manner and driven by the gear box I8, which is mounted to the power plant I9.

The gear box I8 may be disengaged from the power plant I9 through the action of a clutch within the housing 20 and operated by the control lever 2|. The arbor is mounted within suitable bearings 22 which are bolted to the channels I5. l Y

The log carriage is indicated at 23 and is of any well known type of construction, consisting wheels 25 operating on the tracks 26 and 2'I.

\ The blocks 28 are mounted to the frame 24 and have the usual knees 29 operating thereon. I have not illustrated any particular operating mechanism, as any well known type of operating mechanism can be used.

The carriage 23 is operated along the tracks 26 and 21 by the drum 30 and cables 3 I. This is a well known principle wherein the cable is secured. to the carriage at 32 and trained around the idler pulley 33, which is lXedly secured to the frame I3, thence around the drum 3G and to the opposite end of the carriage at 35.

I will now describe the method I use for operating the drumy 30, which is a well known method, consisting of a friction drive. This friction drive in my assembly consists of two countershafts 36 mounted in suitable bearings 31 within the main frame I of the machine. Drive pulleys 38 and 39 are keyed to these countershafts. A cross shaft 40, having an idler pulley 4| mounted thereon is also mounted within the frame I. Mounted and keyed to the arbor I1 is a drive pulley 42. This drive pulley drives the countershafts 36 by the belt 43 which is trained about the drive. pulley 42, pulleys 38 and 39 and the idler pulley 4|, as shown in Fig. 6. A shaft 44 is journalled at one end within the bearing 45 mounted to the frame I. This bearing is a selfaligning bearing and provides for lateral-3 movement of the shaft. The opposite end of the shaft 44 is journalled within the movable bearing 46 which is also a self-aligning` bearing.

Mounted to the shaft 44 is a master wheeln 41, which cooperates with the friction wheels 48 and 48A keyed to the shafts 36. The friction wheels48 and. 48A are rotating continuously and when the master wheel' 41 is brought in frictional` contact with either of these wheels the shaft 44 is revolved in a direction depending upon 'which' of the friction wheels the master wheel engages.

The movement of the master wheel 41 and the shaft 44 is governedby the control lever 49',.which is'pivotally mounted at 50 and has the connecting rod pivotally connected to the bearing 46 as shown in Fig. 2. The bearing 46 is mounted to the base: 52 so that it can move along the slots 53v as shown. in Fig. 1`. It will be noted that the-friction wheels 48 and 48AA drive in opposite directions to one another;

The drum 38 is driven by the'shaft 44 through the sprockets 54, chain 55 and the sprocket 56. The drum 98 is rotated in one direction to bring the carriage past the saw from the position shown by'the broken lines and rotated in the opposite direction to return the carriage to the starting position. This is accomplished by moving the lever49 so as to bringy the master wheelY 41 either in contact with' the friction wheel 48 or 48A. It will beY noted that the friction drum 48 is driven in the opposite direction to that ofthe friction drum 48A. This provides'for a' reversing: of" the drum 38 and' is of well known practice.

The friction drum 48.Y travels at a higher rate of speed than the drum 48A due tothe differences in diameters of the pulleys 38 and 39'. This provides for the moving of the carriage at a relatively slow speed towards the' saw while increasingv its speed on the return to the loading position.

I will now describe the operation ofthe log deck conveyors and the log turner. Referring t'oFigui-e '1, deck skids' 51 are mounted' upon the cross members |4` of the frame I2. Pivotally mounted to the outer ends 58 of the skids are the log decks 59. The decks 59v consist of supporting pedestals 68 mounted to the frame I2, having bearings 6| (Fig. l) formed on their upper ends through which the cross shaft 62 is journalled. Drive sprockets 63 are keyed to the shaft 62 and have the chains 64 trained therearound. The chains 64 are supported by beams 65 which` in turn are supported by the extensions 65A having bearings 65B,. as bestV illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. The lower outer or free ends of the chain assemblies and decks 59 rest on the pedestal 66 through the stub shafts 61 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The stub shafts 61. remain stationary, while the lower sprocket 68 revolves thereabout.

A The beams 65 of the log deck chain assembly are broken midway their lengths at 69 and are connected by a hinge 18. This allows them to be folded to the dotted position shown in Figure 5.

A sprocket 1I is keyed to the shaft 62 and is driven by the chain 12 from the sprocket 13 as shown in Fig. '1. The sprocket 13 is driven by the chain 14 through the shaft 19, sprocket 19A and from the sprocket 15. The sprocket 15 is keyed to the differential assembly 16 which is a standardv rear axle of: an automotive vehicle. This differential assembly isv driven by a chain 11 from the sprocket 18 (Fig. 6) keyed to the counter shaft 36 of the friction drive and therefore, this chain 11 is driven continuously.

The log turner consists of a vertical bar 88 (Figs. 6 and1) which is slidably mounted Within the guide 8|. The guide 8| has stub shafts 82 forming part thereof and journalled in the bearings 83 and 84, said bearings forming part of the frame I4. The guide 8| permits the bar 88 to oscillate in its operation. A sheave 85 is journalled at 86 tothe lower endy of theV bar 88, and has the cable 81 trained thereabout. The cable 81 is` dead; endedy at 88 and` runs over the idler pulley 89. and down to the drum 98. The drum 98 is mountedto the shaft 9| of a differential assembly 92 which also is driven continuously by the chain 11.

I willv now` describe the operation of the log turner bar 88. In order to operate the same the foot pedal 94 (Figs. 1 and 6) is pressed downwardly causing the plunger 95 to operate the brakefoperating lever 96; applying. the brake (not here shown) within the drum 91. This brake assembly stops the rotation.y of the shaft 98 extending from the differential gears- 92; thereby causing theI shaft 9|V to rotatev and revolve. the drum 98, winding the cable 81' thereabout and raising the bar. 88. The bar 88 has the usual dogs 99 for engaging the side- |88 of the log |8I, and turning the samev upon the blocks 28. As therbar 88 israised thev guide 8| pivots about its shafts 82 permitting the bar 88 to rock away from the blocks 28as the log is turnedI thereon.

A stop |82prevents the endI |83 of the bar 88 from passing beyond the end |84 of the skids 51 in its operation. UponY releasing the foot from the pedal 94, the weight of the bar 88 causes it to gravitate to the starting position. In order to cause the deck chain. 64I to travel' in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 7) bringing the log 93 to the decks 51v the pedalv |85 (Fig. 1) is pressed down to apply the brake assembly |86 and operate the differential' 16 causing the sprocket 15 to be` revolvedv thereby operating the chains'14 and 12' and the log deck chain 64.

After the logihas'been located` on the carriage the friction clutch lever' 49 is operated bringing thev master wheel 4'1 into contact with the friction wheel' 48A, this will cause the cable 38 to move the carriage past the saw I6, the slab or cantvwill then fall' on the rollers |81v and I 88, see Figs. l and 2. The rollers I81 are preferably live rollers geared together by the chain |89 and driven by the chain |8A from the transmission ||I. The transmission is driven from the arbor shaft I1 by the chain ||2. See Fig. 6. The rollers |88 are dead rollers, two of which are mounted on the platform ||3 where the lumber is removed from the mill. A. man usually stands on the platform ||3 at this point separating the lumber. The platform isv pivotally mounted to the frame at ||4. Pedestals |.I5 rigidly support the outer roller |88, on the platform H3, Whereas the inner. roller |88 is pivotally mounted to the platform at ||6 so that it can be folded to permit folding of the platform H3, as illustrated in Figure 3, when the machine is being moved.

I have provided a special sawdust conveyor I I'I, the lower end I I8 of this conveyor is located beneath the saw I6, as best illustrated in Figure 8. The conveyor consists of a tube ||9 which is secured to the frame I and to the frame I2. A conveyor chain |29 passes through this tube and about the sprocket |2I. A suitable framework |22 is pivotally mounted at |28 to the frame `I2 adjacent the upper end of the tube II9. The outer or free end of the frame |22 is supported by a removable post |24 at higher level than the inner end thereof as shown in Fig. 5. The conveyor chain |29 is trained around the usual sprocket |25 at the upper end of the framework. The framework |22 is hingedly joined at |25 and folds to an upright position, as illustrated by the dotted position in Figure 5, while the machine is being moved. 'Ihe conveyor chain |20 is driven by the belt or chain |21 from the gear box |28, which in turn is driven by the chain |29 from the transmission heretofore described.

In the operation of this conveyor the sawdust is removed by the lower run of the chain |20 and piled on a sawdust pile as best illustrated in Figure 5. I have provided a roof or covering |36 which may be mounted uponuprights ISI for sheltering the mill. This covering may be made of any suitable material.

I will now describe the operation of the sawmill. `When the mill is located on the site of operation the log deck conveyors 65 are unfolded to the outboard operative position, shown in full line in all of the views, from the inboard storage position, shown by broken lines in Figure 5. The sawdust conveyor framework |22 is arranged in the operative position shown in full lines from the storage position, shown by broken lines in Fig. 5, and the forward conveyor unit and platform ||3 is lowered to operative position (Figs. 1 and 2) from inoperative position, shown in Figure 3. The mill is now ready to operate. The operator stands adjacent the levers 49 and 2|, and the foot pedals 94 and |65 from where he can operate the log deck conveyor 64, as above described, together with the log turner 88 for placing the log and positioning it upon the carriage 23, and from this point he can operate the set rig of the carriage not here shown, setting the log to the proper position on the carriage for entering the saw.

The lever 49 is operated, as the mill is running, to move the carriage past the saw, delivering the slab or cant on the rollers |01 and |08, after which it is sorted by hand upon leaving the platform IIS. The carriage is then returned by the operation of the lever 49 on the friction assembly 41--48 as above described, after which the operator operates the pedals 94 and |05 in the controlling of the log turner and the log deck conveyor.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical structure as illustrated and described, as other mechanical equivalents may be substituted still coming within the scope of my claim.

I claim:

A portable sawmill including a rectangular shaped main frame mounted for ready portability, a rectangular shaped supporting frame mounted on the main frame and overhanging the sides of the main frame, said supporting frame comprising parallel side members and end members joining the side members in spaced relation to each other and relatively spaced intermediate cross beams joined at their ends to said side members in parallel spaced relation to said end members, longitudinally extending supporting members mounted on said cross beams, a power plant mounted on said supporting frame at one corner thereof, the husk assembly being positioned centrally of said supporting frame and operatively connected to said power plant, a U-shaped frame connected to the same end of the supporting frame at the corner opposite that on which the power plant is mounted and extending outwardly of the corner of said supporting frame, a pair of tracks supported by and eX- tending along one side of the supporting frame and the U-shaped frame, a carriage on said tracks for addressing a log to the husk assembly, a platform hinged to the supporting frame at the end to which the U-shaped frame is attached and said platform extending outwardly of the supporting frame parallel to said U-shaped frame, rollers mounted on said supporting members and on said platform, a log deck at the end of the supporting frame opposite to the U-shaped frame and platform so that logs can be delivered to said carriage to be fed to said husk assembly and the slabs and sawed lumber after leaving the husk assembly being received on said rollers to be moved onto said platform for delivering said slabs and sawed lumber free of the mill. said assembly being rigid and substantially rectangular and said supporting frame retaining its rigidity throughout the transportation of said sawmill.

GLEN A. JOHNSON.

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